Whether you are going through personal grief or someone you know is, it's important to familiarize yourself about one of the most serious things someone can go through in life. There are a lot of amazing books that cover the technical portions of grief. Those books identify the stages of grief but I wanted to share books that touch on how to walk through grief as a Christian. These books aren't in any particular order but they are good the have on hand.
1) The Psalms: The Psalms are a great place to start when the weight of grief becomes unbearable. In the Pslams, we learn how to be human before God. It doesn't shy away from the agony and pain that occurs in human existence. Most of the Psalms were written by David. David spent years as a lonely shepherd boy. Then he spent years on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him. He experienced the consequences of sin from others and his own. Reading Psalm 51 shares the weight of grief sin brings. So if you're lost in the emotion of grief, I would highly suggest reading the Pslams.
2) Through the Eyes of Lion by Levi Lusko: Levi Lusko, a pastor in Montana writes about the sudden death of his five year old daughter. In the book he touches on the weight of that pain and how God has used something so unimaginable to bring redemptive power. I read this book before going through any intense grief. It gave me a foundation for how to walk through pain and let God use you through it.
3) The Fight to Flourish by Jennie Lusko: Jennie is Levi's wife and writes about her experience from the lens of a mom. It's a beautiful book sharing about God takes the pain she experienced and instead it making her bitter, it made her better.
4) Dark Clouds/Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop: This book I'm still working through but it beautifully puts into words what I've been living. It gives language to the biblical practice of lament. In the book, he invites you to deepen your walk with God by guiding you how to feel and express the deep pain you feel.
5) The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers: This is a historical fiction that takes place in the Smoky Mountains and focuses on a young girl named Cadi Forbes. This book wrestles with pain and grief and masterfully shows how Jesus redeems even the darkest experiences.
6 & 7) A Tale of Three Kings & The Prisoner in the Third Cell by Gene Edwards: These two books wrestle with brokenness and disappointed expectations when it feels like God has failed you. A Tale of Three Kings deals with the weight of human relationships. The scars that we give each other and how to navigate it. The Prisoner in the Third Cell is from the perspective of John the Baptist. What would it have been like to proclaim the Messiah is coming only to be executed? To be faithful only to be forgotten by God...
These two books are great to read hand in hand but can be read separately.
Grief is an unfortunate thing that we must walk through. Hopefully these books will provide guidance and make you feel less alone on your journey. As Christians we are never truly alone thanks to Jesus. But it helps to remember that we are a part of a community of people who also have gone through indescribable pain. May we find grace on our journey together.
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